Parishioners, community march for justice for slain 3-year-old Amorian S.L. Hale
After seeing the pain expressed by a grieving mother, Jackie Malone said Sunday, she could no longer just sit on the sidelines.
Malone sent an email to her fellow parishioners at St. Peter’s and St. Therese Little Flower to get the support she needed to take action.
About 75 members of those parishes joined Malone and nearly 100 other residents, neighborhood leaders and community activists in a march Sunday seeking information about the shooting death of 3-year-old Amorian S.L. Hale.
“We don’t know what we can do today, but we can come out together and show our support,” Malone said.
Two weeks ago, a bullet killed Amorian as he slept in his bedroom.
Since then, relatives, community leaders and police have pleaded for information about the shooting, which occurred in the 6700 block of Walrond Avenue.
No arrests have been made. Police continue to ask anyone with information to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (816-474-8477).
The sight of the multiracial crowd as it moved past her house nearly brought Joyce Wilson to tears.
“This is a good thing, but it also is a sad thing,” Wilson said. “I lived here for 30 years, and I have never seen anything like this. That baby got killed. Babies are targets; mothers are targets. It doesn’t make any sense.”
Led by the KC Marching Sizzlers drill team, the group walked from the Walrond Avenue residence east toward Meyer Boulevard. Carrying banners and hoisting signs, marchers chanted: “No more violence. No more killings. No more silence.”
The Rev. Stephen M. Cook, pastor of both parishes, said it was important for churches and communities to bring comfort and healing to those affected by violence.
“If nothing else, we can bring God into this wound,” Cook said. “Sometimes when God is there things can get healed a little bit better. We understand the pain of the loss and the pain in the city where there is violence, and we want to be there for them.”
As the march ended, Monee McKinney said she appreciated the support and continues to struggle with her son’s death. She pleaded for those who have information about Amorian’s killing to come forward.
“I am no longer sad; I’m mad,” McKinney said. “Until I get justice, until we all get justice, I am going to do what I need to do. As a community, we need to learn to empower each other rather than bring each other down.”
To reach Glenn E. Rice, call 816-234-4341 or send email to grice@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published June 14, 2015 at 7:49 PM with the headline "Parishioners, community march for justice for slain 3-year-old Amorian S.L. Hale."